HEBRON — Despite storm debris and power outages, students in the Hebron Station School and Otisfield Community School arrived for the first day of school Thursday morning.

“I’d rather have the days off,” Hebron sixth-grader Brandon Smith said.

Both elementary schools were closed for three days because of unsafe road conditions and lack of power due to Tropical Storm Irene. Students in the six other elementary schools in the district and seventh-grade students in the Oxford Middle School and freshmen at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School returned to classes Wednesday.

Hebron Principal Melanie Ellsworth said some buses were running late because of detours for tree and utility work on Hebron Station Road where the school is, but students arrived with smiles ready to start the new school year.

At Otisfield Community School, Principal Linda Park said all students, including kindergartners, were in classes Thursday.

“It’s gone very well,” she said.

Although she believes a few people in town may still be without power, all the students showed up on time for their first day of school.

The school underwent a $1 million renovation project to remove mold from the exterior walls and windows. The school had new walls and windows and other work done this summer.

“The school looks wonderful,” she said. “It looks like a new school.”

Students in grades 8, 10, 11 and 12 also reported for their first day of school at the Oxford Middle School and Oxford Comprehensive High School on Thursday. Students in these grades traditionally come in one day after students in grades seven and nine attend an orientation day.

ldixon@sunjournal.com